What Did Sage Steele Say? ESPN Removes Anchor Over Barack Obama Remarks

Sage Steele has been pulled off air on ESPN on account of controversial suggestions.

The host is no doubt one of many channel’s best-known SportsCenter anchors nonetheless viewers just isn’t going to be seeing the 48-year-old on the screens for the next few days.

Steele’s break from her duties comes after she appeared on a podcast and made numerous controversial suggestions concerning former President Barack Obama‘s racial background, sexism and the way in which girls journalists robe, and ESPN’s COVID-19 insurance coverage insurance policies and vaccine mandate.

Due to this, Steele is not going to appear in her widespread noon SportsCenter slot for each week. She has moreover been eradicated as host of the 2021 espnW: Women + Sports activities actions Summit this month.

The host made the suggestions on the podcast, Uncut With Jay Cutler.

That is what she said:

On former President Barack Obama’s racial background:

Remarking on how the earlier president chosen “Black” on the census, Steele said she found that “fascinating.”

“I’m like, ‘Correctly, congratulations to the president. That’s his issue.’ I imagine that’s fascinating considering his Black dad was nowhere to be found, nonetheless his white mom and grandma raised him, nonetheless hey, you do you. I’ll do me.”

On girls journalists:

Steele said she rejects mentor requests from aspiring girls hosts if she deems them to be dressed inappropriately.

“So everytime you robe like that, I’m not saying you deserve the gross suggestions, nonetheless what you might be doing everytime you’re putting that outfit on, too,” Steele said. “Like, girls are smart, so don’t play coy and put all of it on the fellows.”

On ESPN’s vaccine mandate:

“I respect all people’s selection. I really do. Nevertheless to mandate it’s sick, and it’s scary to me in some methods,” Steele said “I’m not shocked it obtained to this point, significantly with Disney. I indicate, a worldwide agency like that.”

ESPN has confirmed that they’re in discussions with Steele following her podcast look.

“At ESPN, we embrace utterly various factors of view—dialogue and dialogue makes this place good. That said, we rely on that these elements of view be expressed respectfully, in a style in step with our values, and based on our inside insurance coverage insurance policies,” the outlet said in an announcement, per Choice.

“We’re having direct conversations with Sage, and folks conversations will keep private.”

An apology from Steele was moreover provided by ESPN, per The Hill.

“I do know my newest suggestions created controversy for the company, and I apologize,” Steele said. “We’re throughout the midst of a very troublesome time that impacts all of us, and it’s additional essential than ever that we discuss constructively and thoughtfully.”